Improving metadata

The bibliographic data used by RePEc services can only be as good as what publishers provide. While a post last month discussed how to improve citation coverage, the present one gives some advice to RePEc archive maintainers on how to improve their metadata to optimize their use in RePEc services. For starters, here is how a well formed RePEc template would look like:

Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Daniel Rais
Author-Name: Peter Lawater
Author-Email: p.lawater@grandiose.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics, Grandiose University
Author-Name: Jonathan Goldman
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Finance, Grandiose University
Author-Name: Zhiwei Chui
Title: Phases of Imitation and Innovation in a North-South Endogenous Growth Model
Abstract: In this paper, we develop a North-South endogenous growth model to examine three phases of development in the South: imitation of Northern products, imitation and innovation and finally, innovation only. In particular, the model has the features of catching up (and potentially overtaking) which are of particular relevance to the Pacific Rim economies. We show that the possible equilibria depend on cross-country assimilation effects and the ease of imitation. We then apply the model to analyze the impact of R&D subsidies. There are some clear global policy implications which emerge from our analysis. Firstly, because subsidies to Southern innovation benefit the North as well, it is beneficial to the North to pay for some of these subsidies. Secondly, because the ability of the South to assimilate Northern knowledge and innovate depends on Southern skills levels, the consequent spillover benefits on growth make the subsidizing of Southern education by the North particularly attractive.
Length: 26 pages
Creation-Date: 1996-07
Revision-Date: 1998-01
Publication-Status: Published in Review of Economics, March 1999, pages 1-23
File-URL: ftp://ftp.grandiose.edu/pub/econ/WorkingPapers/surrec9602.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
File-Function: First version, 1996
File-URL: ftp://ftp.grandiose.edu/pub/econ/WorkingPapers/surrec9602R.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
File-Function: Revised version, 1998
Number: 9602
Classification-JEL: E32, R10
Keywords: North-South, growth model, innovation assimilation
Handle: RePEc:aaa:wpaper:9602

This is just an example, and there are more fields that can be used. See the step-by-step instructions for opening a RePEc archive for much more details. But let me point out a few recommendations:

The more fields are filled, the better it is. But these fields must be legal, as defined in the documentation, or the entire template is rejected.

One put information relevant to a field. For example, there should be no affiliation in the Author-Name:, or no paper number in Title:.

The Author-Name field should contain only one author. Repeat the field for multiple authors! This is important, other wise we have difficulties attributing papers to authors on the RePEc Author Service.

If there are multiple versions of a paper within the same series, repeat the File-* block as in the example above instead of creating a new tempate.

Handle is a unique identifier that should not be changed, and in particular that should not be recycled. The latter point is very important, as handles provide links between papers, authors, references, citations, statistics, etc. Handle recycling introduces errors that are very, very cumbersome to correct.

About this blog

Welcome to the RePEc blog. We, the RePEc team, discuss here the workings of RePEc and seek input from the community on how we can improve. We also want to give more volunteers opportunity to be part of this project and provide valuable services to the profession. Finally, we also discuss issues about the dissemination of research in Economics.

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